Josh and his other mate make up for it, all five of us dancing until I get dizzy, laughing freely and enjoying myself even more than I ever did in Nice. I’m tempted to post something on social media just to see if my old friends would text me back, but beforeI know it, the thought is gone. The need for their approval and their love fades as Mina takes my hand and we twirl all the way to the crowded bathroom. Compliments from other women pour out as we reach the ladies room, about my dress, the way my ass looks. We exchange lipgloss and redo each other’s make-up with drunken eyes. It’s one of the best nights of my life.
I take a picture with Mina and send it into my group chat with Aleksei, Irina and Dante. Our faces are smooched close and we’re laughing at the camera, cheeks blushing and make up smudged at the corner of our eyes.
I send it to Mina as well and she hugs me close.
“Let’s go, Loulou,” she says, the nickname easy between us and I smile.
“Let’s go, Mimi.”
The dance-floor swallows us again.
EIGHT
LUCIE
Chris is insisting on getting me a drink for the third time tonight and I’m at my wit’s end. He pushes the glass into my hand, already full of something clear and pungent. I don’t take it.
“Come on, sweet Luce.” I cringe at the nickname. “Have a drink with me,” he slurs, his gaze lecherous.
With the alcohol flowing through me already, I’m very close to punching his veneers. I injured a murderer this summer, a trained killer who escaped everyone. This guy is nothing. But damn, he doesn’t know how to take a hint. He’s not the type I would ever be nice to. I might be a people pleaser but I’m not a doormat, and certainly not a pushover.
“I said ‘no’, Chris. I’m not interested. And don’t call me Luce. My name’s Lucie.”
“Mina calls you Loulou. Why can’t I call you something sweet, too? Just like you.”
“Because Mina’s my friend.
“I could be your friend.”
His firm hand closes around my elbow. He uses his bigger body, his strength and mostly my surprise to pin me to the wall. No one looks at us twice, trysts happening all around us. We probably look like a couple making out. Except, this is anythingbut innocent dry humping. His hand paws at my tits and he squeezes. I cry out but the music swallows it. My heart pounds in my ears, blood rushing until everything around us goes muted. Time slows around me, but not for him. His other hand makes a swift descent between my legs.
“I know what a party girl like you wants,” he rasps, grinding his hard cock against my thigh.
I don’t know why this word, ‘party girl’, makes me angry, but it’s my saving grace. Everything comes back rushing. Including my training. I play along, gliding a hand to his face until I can reach the soft flesh under his jaw and press two fingers against his trachea. He jerks back enough for me to punch his throat.
I’m sure his coughs would be music to my ears if I could hear them.
The next thing I do is a low blow.
Literally.
A knee to the dick.
Chris doubles over, kneeling in front of me. I raise his chin with a finger and slap his cheek gently. Twice. People snicker around us. They haven’t seen the entire interaction but they revel in the humiliation. Chris picks himself up and disappears up the stairs.
Is this why my father, Dante, Aleksei, Irina all crave violence? That rush into my bloodstream at hurting my enemy making me feel invincible is better than any drug. Better than being a good little sunshine.
I try to find Mina in the crowd but she disappeared, probably went home with Josh. I look down at my phone. I have an unread message from her. And missed calls from the magic trio.
Shit.
Oh no.
I sent a picture to Dante, Irina and Aleksei in my drunken stupor. I can’t focus on this right now. One thing at a time. I’llcall them when I’m home. When it’s silent. I look at the picture again. Other people are visible in the background, but maybe I can weave a tale of a house party that Gemma and Milosh accompanied me to.
I wince. Asking the man to lie for me will be hard, especially after I drugged him and his wife.
I groan and open the thread with Mina.
